Towns joining the Culture Club

Towns across Lancashire are looking to take a cultured approach when it comes to revival and renewal.

From Burnley to St Annes, they have entered the national race to be crowned the UK’s first ever ‘Town of Culture’ – with the winner netting a £3m cash prize.

It is all part of the government’s bid to drive regeneration through culture, with the money on offer aimed at boosting local pride, skills and investment.

The Town of Culture idea has been inspired by the competition for cities which was launched in 2013. Since then, it has made a significant impact in communities such as Bradford – the 2025 holder of the ‘City of Culture’ title.

The programme the West Yorkshire city put together for its year is predicted to have generated an additional £136.9m in visitor
spend to the local economy.

More than 5,000 events were held during the 12 months. There have been other large-scale benefits.

Shanaz Gulzar, creative director of Bradford 2025, told a Great Northern Conference event in Doncaster: “This year has meant that the regeneration of the city centre, which would have normally taken about three to four years, has been delivered in 18 months.

“So having a major event means major infrastructure is actually put into place, and that long term plans have actually been
delivered much faster.”

Then there is the legacy that is created and the momentum the title brings. The numbers surrounding Hull’s 2017 year were impressive, including £219m of investment.

But beyond that there has been a lasting effect, with an ongoing rise in visitor numbers, culminating with the East Yorkshire city being named one of the top 25 global destinations to visit in 2026 by National Geographic in its Best of the World list.

Blackpool is eagerly hoping for more of the same. It has been longlisted by the government as the potential City of Culture 2029.

While Blackpool isn’t a city, its size and population and £2bn visitor economy make it eligible. The council will now receive a £60,000 grant towards creating a scalable bid, ahead of making a full application this summer.

If successful, Blackpool would receive £10m to host a year-long celebration of arts and culture for local people to enjoy, as well as increasing the tourism economy and creating new jobs.

It faces strong competition from Inverness-Highland, Ipswich, Middlesbrough, Milton Keynes, Portsmouth, Sheffield, Swindon and Wrexham.

But council leader Lynn Williams believes the resort’s offering is compelling.

She said: “Blackpool is bursting with culture and variety. “Our diverse culture and entertainment offer means Blackpool has something for everybody, from all age groups and backgrounds.

"Being named as the City of Culture 2029 would showcase the talent and creativity that we already have on our doorstep, making all our residents proud of our bold, vibrant and cultural town.

“To top it all off, 2029 would mark the 150th anniversary of one of Britain’s first and most loved mass arts displays – the
Blackpool Illuminations.”

The lobbying has already begun. Blackpool South MP Chris Webb met with the government’s culture secretary Lisa Nandy in April to highlight the town’s offer.

He said: “From our thriving grassroots music and arts scene and our LGBTQ+ community, to our world-class theatres and international dance festivals, and our unmatched heritage, Blackpool has always been a magnet for creativity and a home of vibrant cultural life.

“I can think of no better way of this government proving its commitment to turning the tide of decline in our seaside town than by recognising and investing in our rich and diverse culture that has survived and thrived against all odds.”

While battling it out in the city competition, Blackpool has also expressed an interest in the new Town of Culture title. In doing that it has joined a host of Lancashire towns looking to throw their hats into the ring.

They range from market towns such as Chorley and Kirkham, to the coastal communities of Lytham and St Annes, which have been working up separate bids, and Morecambe.

The east of the county has also shown keen interest, with Accrington, Barnoldswick, Colne and Burnley with Padiham all looking to enter the fray.

Arts Lancashire, which works with local artists, has collaborated with the county council and the Creative Lancashire organisation to deliver tailored support for all the towns considering entering the competition.

Its director Alex O’Toole said: “Seeing so many Lancashire towns step forward is a powerful reflection of the strength and ambition of our cultural sector.

“For one or more to be shortlisted – or even win – the UK Town of Culture competition could be transformative for Lancashire by helping to unlock investment, raising the profiles of both the town and Lancashire, and creating long-term opportunities for artists, organisations and communities.

“But just as important is the process itself. Bringing these bids together encourages partnership working, builds a shared sense of place and ambition, and opens up new ways of thinking about how culture is accessed, supported and energised locally. That momentum doesn’t disappear – it stays within the place.”

The competition has already made its mark in the county, even though a shortlist of entries has still to be announced and the winner won’t be announced until next year. Culture and heritage are moving up the agenda with the role they play in local economies now widely acknowledged.

Lisa Nandy, the culture secretary, who says too many towns have been “written out of the national story”, hopes the new competition will “foster a sense of local pride”.

It is certainly doing that in Lancashire. The civic leaders and local organisations that have come together in these towns to work up bids are eager to highlight why they should have a shot at the prize and to shine a light on their culture and heritage.

Morecambe involved a range of local arts, creative and heritage organisations to support the development of its bid. The joint
partnership said it sought to show the “energy, diversity and creativity” of the town.

Hyndburn Council committed £100,000 of additional funding in its 2026/27 budget to support culture and heritage activity across the borough, as it worked towards its bid.

The additional funding will be spent on cultural programming, community engagement, and heritage activity – building on recent
transformational investments including restoring Accrington Market Hall and town centre buildings, and the ongoing DOME heritage development project, supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

In Blackburn, organisations including the National Festival of Making, Super Slow Way and the British Textile Biennial, have worked with a range of local partners on the town’s expression of interest. Locals were also invited to get involved.

Jamie Holman, artist and passionate supporter of the town, said: “Blackburn has always been a place of invention and transformation.

“That spirit continues today in the creativity of our communities, the strength of our cultural organisations, and the ambition people have for the town’s future.”

Meanwhile, investments are strengthening the town’s cultural infrastructure, including £14m for King George’s Hall, expansion of
The Making Rooms, and the transformation of The Exchange into a new cultural hub.

Council leader Phil Riley said: “Blackburn has an impressive cultural story to tell, and this is a fantastic opportunity to share it with the rest of the UK.

“Over the past decade, we’ve seen an impressive cultural renaissance – from transforming empty spaces into venues for international events, to welcoming tens of thousands of visitors through the National Festival of Making and hosting hugely ambitious exhibitions at Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery.”

Mary Thomas, who chairs Colne Town Council, is equally bullish. She said: “Colne has an incredible cultural story - from our industrial heritage to our thriving music scene and strong community spirit. This bid is about celebrating who we are, recognising the creativity that already exists here, and creating new opportunities for our residents, businesses and young people.”

Burnley already has its own Year of Culture planned in 2027. The project is uniting organisations, communities, and young people in what has been described as an ambitious plan “to reshape Burnley’s cultural landscape”.

The council says the Town of Culture competition chimes with the aim of using culture “as a tool to tackle inequality”.

Coun Kelly Farrington, coordinating the Lytham bid, said: “The entry strongly reflects the culture and history of the town, harnessing it to help shape a positive future.”

Lytham, like the other towns across Lancashire, is also finding there is more to the competition than winning the big cash prize – game-changing though it might be.

As Kelly explained: “The process is proving a positive and enjoyable one, because it is bringing organisations and venues across
the town together.”

Launching the competition Lisa Nandy, who represents the historic North West mining town of Wigan in the Commons, said: “There is so much for us to be proud of in the towns we’re from – from the rich, local history to unique festivals and celebrations.

They have shaped our national story for decades. Now it’s time they take centre stage and showcase their unique stories.”